Rethinking pilot retention in the United States: An analysis of key factors

Pilot retention remains a persistent challenge for U.S. regional airlines, yet empirical evidence on its structural drivers is limited. This study examines how airline pilots perceive the relative importance of key retention factors and whether these priorities differ across demographic and professional characteristics. Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey of 57 U.S.-based regional airline pilots, the study applies an adapted rank-order instrument and non-parametric statistical tests. The findings show that financial factors, quality of life, and schedule predictability form a top tier of nearly equal importance, while professional recognition consistently ranks lowest. Age shows a detectable association with retention priorities: pilots aged 35 and under ranked quality of life higher than older cohorts, a pattern requiring replication with larger samples. The results support the relevance of motivation and job embeddedness theories and suggest that non-financial factors play an increasingly central role in pilot retention strategies in the U.S. airline labor market.